Prepared Food Application

Market Square Farmers’ Market: Prepared Food Application
May 1 – November 23, 2013

The Market Square Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 9am-2pm and Wednesday from 11am-2pm. Set up may begin two hours before opening. Vendors are required to remain open for the entire market, or until their products sell out.

No resale is allowed by any vendor at the Market Square Farmers’ Market. If you did not make it, grow it or produce it, you cannot sell it at the MSFM. Occasionally collaborative efforts may be accepted with prior approval from the MSFM. Vendors may only sell products approved through this application. Additional products can be added with prior approval.

All vendors will apply through Manage My Market, an online market management tool.  Click here to apply.

Below are the guidelines for prepared food vendors and the market regulations for your review.  These are also in the online applications, but this will allow you to gauge if you are eligible to be a vendor before applying.

Prepared Food Application Requirements

“Prepared food” includes any food that has been processed beyond its natural state (i.e., baked goods, shelled beans, halved melons, and canned food). Pet treats are acceptable under this application. All prepared foods must be made in a certified kitchen and inspected by the TN Dept. of Agriculture Regulatory Services prior to selling at the MSFM. For information about the domestic kitchen certification & food manufacturing requirements, please contact the TN Dept. of Agriculture at 615-837-5193.

All prepared foods must be sold in compliance with TN Dept. of Agriculture and Knox County Health Dept. regulations. All packaged foods must be labeled with vendor contact information, ingredients, and net weight. The MSFM must have a current regulatory inspection sheet and current service or food manufacturing permit on file. Include a copy of each with this application by uploading the file to your Manage My Market document section or by emailing it to knoxfarmersmarket@gmail.com, or mailing to PO Box 2422, Knoxville, TN 37901. The vendor must also have a copy of each license at his/her booth on market days. All food must be stored properly while at the MSFM.

Local, state, and federal laws trump any market rules.  While we strive to keep up to date on what is required, it is your responsibility to ensure your product is fully compliant with all regulations.  Any failure to do so may put your business at risk and could result in expulsion from the MSFM.

Food prepared on site must be stored in an inspected facility prior to coming to the MSFM. Preparing food on site may require inspection by the Knox County Health Dept. of the vendor’s booth. These concession-style foods will be reviewed on a case by case basis and will be very limited at the MSFM. Only concessions that support local growers and/or sustainable farming will be accepted. This does not apply to artisanal products such as breads or packaged grocery items, although preference will be given to those that incorporate natural ingredients and local products.

In accordance with health department regulations, all food should be displayed off the ground. This includes baskets of produce and coolers containing food to sell.

Rates:  Space Rate will be $20 per market for each 10×10 space per Saturday and $15 per Wednesday.  A non-refundable $30 annual membership fee will be due upon acceptance.

Market Rules and Regulations

Booth Assignments:  The MSFM will assign a booth space of 10’ x 10’.  Vendors may reserve one or two booth spaces for no more than a 10’ x 20’ space.  Farmers may reserve a space with parking for one vehicle.  These spaces are limited and will be assigned based on demonstrated need and seniority.  Booth assignments are emailed each week of the market.   Vendors are encouraged to reserve their spaces early.  Preference for booth assignments will be given in order of seniority and for diversity of product.

Set up/Tear down Time:  Set up may begin two hours before opening.  Vendors are required to remain open for the entire market, or until their products sell out.  Vendors must be gone by 3:30pm each market day.  No driving will take place within the market during open hours.  In the event of sell out, vendors may leave their booths and return to break down at 2pm, or may carry equipment out of the market perimeter to load.

Cancellations:  The MSFM is held rain or shine.  Cancellations for a reserved market must be made 48 hours in advance of the market to receive a refund on pre-paid booth fees.  The MSFM understands that emergencies do happen and will be considerate to any last minute emergencies, but will not tolerate abuse of this policy.

Safety: Vendors assume all responsibility for any losses of property or money from the market site.  Booths should never be left unattended.  There will be an officer on site at each Saturday market.  If you see suspicious activity, please contact the market manager.

Market Money & EBT:  Vendors are required to accept Market Money.  The vendor will be reimbursed for Market Money at the end of the market by turning in tokens to the Market Manager.  However, only eligible vendors are allowed to accept the red restricted EBT tokens.  These tokens are only applicable for food items to take home, not to be consumed on site, and vegetable or fruit plants.  If you are not an eligible vendor and take any red tokens, you will not be reimbursed for these tokens.  Additional instructions for Market Money & EBT can be found in the documents section of the Manage My Market website.  Vendors can take whatever additional forms of payment (cash, check, credit card) they would like, along with Market Money.

Prohibited Products:  The MSFM does not condone the use of threatened or endangered materials.  The sale of alcohol or tobacco products is prohibited.  Vendors are not allowed to give away food other than approved samples of a vendor’s product. No candy or other foods should be given away at booths.  The MSFM does not allow the sale of potentially dangerous foods.

Pricing: Pricing of goods sold is the sole responsibility of the vendor.  Dishonest merchandising or collusion to set prices among vendors may be grounds for forfeiture of participating in the MSFM.

Booth Guidelines:

1. In the interest of the health and cleanliness of the MSFM, smoking or tobacco use is not allowed in or around vendor stalls or where food is displayed.  Please be courteous to your vendor neighbors by not smoking behind their booths either.  Vendors are not allowed to bring animals of any kind, including dogs.
2. All vendors are expected to be open and ready for business by opening time.  Continued tardiness or no shows will result in forfeiture of the vendor’s assigned space.  Detailed guidelines for set up and breakdown will be sent to vendors upon acceptance.  Driving within the market boundaries will be kept to a minimum.  Vendors should be completely packed up and ready to load their vehicles before driving to their spaces to leave.
3. No outside amplified music is allowed.
4. Vendors must clearly post prices on all products being sold.  Vendors are responsible for all their own applicable sales tax.
5. All necessary equipment and displays must be provided by the vendor.  MSFM will not provide chairs, booths, tents or tables.  Tents must be safely secured from set up to tear down with weights.  No equipment may be staked.  Any tents, canopies, or equipment determined to be unsafe will not be allowed.
6. Electricity is available at most booths, but not all.  If you need electricity, indicate this on the application.  Extension cords will be required and may not be stretched across walkways.  There is an additional charge for access to electricity.
7. Each vendor is responsible for maintaining his/her area in a clean, neat manner throughout the day and cleaning the area before departing at the end of the day.  This means picking up all debris from craft demonstrations, paper, cigarettes, customer’s trash, etc.
8. Vendors are not allowed to use more than the allotted booth space, which includes placing signage in aisles and displays outside the 10’ x 10’ area.  The Market Manager and volunteers have the right to ask for signage or displays to be rearranged if they are blocking another vendor or traffic flow.  Only farm product vendors are allowed to leave vehicles within the market, as assigned.  Other vendors will be required to unload and park their vehicles off site.
9. In accordance with health department regulations, all food should be displayed off the ground.  This includes baskets of produce and coolers containing food to sell.

The MSFM strives to be as environmentally responsible as possible, and therefore does not allow the use of styrofoam packaging.  The MSFM strongly recommends using recyclable or compostable materials for all packaging.  Recycling bins are available at each market.

Transients:  Please do not give money or accept help during set up or break down by someone other than market staff, volunteers or vendors.  We have had issues in the past with transients assisting vendors in exchange for money.  While the decision to give money is ultimately up to you, the policy of the MSFM is not to give money or food to panhandlers.  We feel this is in the best interest of our vendors and our customers, and also allows you to cite the policy of the MSFM to anyone asking for money.

Solicitation:  Advertising for other events or businesses during the market is not allowed without prior approval of the Market Manager.  This includes anyone not associated with the MSFM passing out flyers to vendors and/or customers.  Please alert the market staff to any problems with persons visiting the market to solicit so that we may assess and deal with the situation.

Insurance:  Vendors are responsible for carrying their own liability insurance for product in the amount they deem appropriate.  The MSFM carries event liability insurance for the overall market, but does not cover individual vendors.

Complaints:  Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Market Manager and should be specific in nature.  Allegations of resale by another vendor will be taken seriously and investigated through business/farm/studio inspection and questions regarding the manner in which the product is produced.

Conduct:  Professional conduct is expected.  Any yelling, swearing or threatening customers, vendors or staff will not be tolerated.  This includes in person or by electronic media.  This type of behavior will result in expulsion from the MSFM.

Enforcement of these guidelines is the responsibility of the market manager.  Vendors should report any suspected offenses to the manager.  Any vendor found not in compliance with any of the above rules will receive one warning.  If the vendor still does not comply, he/she will be asked to leave the market for the remainder of the season.  The Market Square Farmers’ Market has a zero tolerance policy concerning resale.  Any vendor found selling anything he/she did not make will be banned from the market for the remainder of the season.

For questions about this application, or for more information, call Charlotte at (865) 405-3135 or email knoxfarmersmarket@gmail.com.